Written questions by Glindon.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Kidney Care UK entitled Left Out in the Cold, published on 30 March 2023; and if he will take steps to reduce the variance of home dialysis reimbursement payments made by NHS trusts.

There are no plans to undertake an assessment of the potential merits of standardising reimbursement for all types of home dialysis, or to reduce variance in payments. Commissioned renal providers in England have a contractual obligation to reimburse the additional utility costs for patients who receive home haemodialysis therapy, as stipulated within the national Haemodialysis to treat established renal failure performed in a patients home service specification and the Paediatric medicine renal service specification, and reimbursement costs are managed directly between providers and patients. Currently, information about patients seeking reimbursement costs is not collected centrally. Further information on the Haemodialysis to treat established renal failure performed in a patients home service specification and the Paediatric medicine renal service specification is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Haemodialysis-to-treat-established-renal-failure-in-the-home.pdfhttps://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/nhs-standard-contract-for-paediatric-medicine-renal/#:~:text=The%20aim%20of%20the%20service,progression%20of%20disease%20where%20possibleIncreasing access to home therapies is a priority for NHS England and this is reflected in its inclusion in the Renal Transformation Toolkit that was published in 2023, which recommends that 20% of all patients on kidney replacement treatment should receive treatment at home.Commissioned renal clinical networks across England have included improving access to home therapies in their work plans as per the recommendations within the toolkit. The NHS England national team supports renal clinical networks with the implementation of home dialysis transformation.The renal clinical networks and the renal services clinical reference group are providing input into the Department’s 10-Year Health Plan development process. As part of this, it is highlighted that increasing home dialysis provision will reduce in-centre dialysis demand and this will shift care from a hospital to a community setting. Renal clinical networks are working towards increasing home dialysis rates in line with the Renal Service Transformation Programme Toolkit’s recommendations.

What steps the NHS is taking to ensure that women with Neurofibromatosis type 1 are informed of their increased risk of breast cancer at an early age.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites women between the ages of 50 and 71 years old to a screening every three years. However, women with an increased risk of breast cancer, such as those with neurofibromatosis type 1, are invited for screening from 40 years old.Any woman who has neurofibromatosis type 1 and who hasn’t been referred for breast screening at 40 years old, or who has noticed changes to their breasts, should speak to their general practitioner.The National Health Service website, available to the public and professionals, has information on neurofibromatosis and the increased risk of breast cancer, and advises breast screening from 40 years old.In 2023, the England Rare Diseases Action Plan committed to improving the registration of national data for exemplar rare genetic conditions which cause an inherited predisposition to cancer, building on the success of the national Lynch syndrome registry.

If he will take steps to increase awareness among women with Neurofibromatosis type 1 that they are entitled to breast screening from the age of 40; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of GPs taking an increased role in (a) identifying and (b) referring such women for screening.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites women between the ages of 50 and 71 years old to a screening every three years. However, women with an increased risk of breast cancer, such as those with neurofibromatosis type 1, are invited for screening from 40 years old.Any woman who has neurofibromatosis type 1 and who hasn’t been referred for breast screening at 40 years old, or who has noticed changes to their breasts, should speak to their general practitioner.The National Health Service website, available to the public and professionals, has information on neurofibromatosis and the increased risk of breast cancer, and advises breast screening from 40 years old.In 2023, the England Rare Diseases Action Plan committed to improving the registration of national data for exemplar rare genetic conditions which cause an inherited predisposition to cancer, building on the success of the national Lynch syndrome registry.

What estimate he has made of the number of people on home dialysis who do not receive reimbursement of the energy costs of that dialysis; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that number on the ability of his Department to shift care from hospital to community.

Increasing access to home therapies is a priority for NHS England, and this is reflected in its inclusion in the Renal Transformation toolkit that was published in 2023, which recommends that 20% of all patients on kidney replacement treatment should receive treatment at home.Commissioned renal clinical networks across England have included improving access to home therapies in their work plans as per the recommendations within the toolkit. NHS England’s national team supports renal clinical networks with the implementation of home dialysis transformation.Commissioned renal providers in England have a contractual obligation to reimburse the additional utility costs for patients who receive home haemodialysis therapy, as stipulated within the Haemodialysis to treat established renal failure performed in a patients home national service specification and the Paediatric medicine renal service specification. Reimbursement costs are managed directly between providers and patients, and therefore there is no central record of how many patients seek reimbursement. Further information on the Paediatric medicine renal service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/paediatric-medicine-renal-service-specification/Renal clinical networks are working towards increasing home dialysis rates in line with the Renal Service Transformation Programme toolkit recommendations.

What steps he is taking to increase the number of patients receiving dialysis at home.

Increasing access to home therapies is a priority for NHS England, and this is reflected in its inclusion in the Renal Transformation toolkit that was published in 2023, which recommends that 20% of all patients on kidney replacement treatment should receive treatment at home.Commissioned renal clinical networks across England have included improving access to home therapies in their work plans as per the recommendations within the toolkit. NHS England’s national team supports renal clinical networks with the implementation of home dialysis transformation.Commissioned renal providers in England have a contractual obligation to reimburse the additional utility costs for patients who receive home haemodialysis therapy, as stipulated within the Haemodialysis to treat established renal failure performed in a patients home national service specification and the Paediatric medicine renal service specification. Reimbursement costs are managed directly between providers and patients, and therefore there is no central record of how many patients seek reimbursement. Further information on the Paediatric medicine renal service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/paediatric-medicine-renal-service-specification/Renal clinical networks are working towards increasing home dialysis rates in line with the Renal Service Transformation Programme toolkit recommendations.

If he will make it his policy to ensure a minimum of 20% of dialysis patients in renal centres receive home dialysis.

Increasing access to home therapies is a priority for NHS England, and this is reflected in its inclusion in the Renal Transformation toolkit that was published in 2023, which recommends that 20% of all patients on kidney replacement treatment should receive treatment at home.Commissioned renal clinical networks across England have included improving access to home therapies in their work plans as per the recommendations within the toolkit. NHS England’s national team supports renal clinical networks with the implementation of home dialysis transformation.Commissioned renal providers in England have a contractual obligation to reimburse the additional utility costs for patients who receive home haemodialysis therapy, as stipulated within the Haemodialysis to treat established renal failure performed in a patients home national service specification and the Paediatric medicine renal service specification. Reimbursement costs are managed directly between providers and patients, and therefore there is no central record of how many patients seek reimbursement. Further information on the Paediatric medicine renal service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/paediatric-medicine-renal-service-specification/Renal clinical networks are working towards increasing home dialysis rates in line with the Renal Service Transformation Programme toolkit recommendations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2024 to Question 20962 on NHS: Staff, whether the engagement on the NHS workforce plan will include (a) a formal consultation separate to that on the 10 year health plan and (b) health charities as a key stakeholder group.

The refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan will deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and ensure patients get the treatment they need, when and where they need it.No formal statutory public consultation is planned. In the development of the plan, we will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including health charities and trade unions, to ensure needs of staff and patients are considered.

If he will take steps to help increase levels of awareness of the potential merits of switching to (a) vapes and (b) other alternatives to smoking among adult smokers, in the context of nicotine pr

The youth vaping call for evidence, published in 2023, demonstrated that vape flavours are one of the main reasons that vapes appeal to children. However, we recognise that vape flavours can also be a consideration for adult smokers seeking to quit smokin...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of deterring adults who might otherwise smoke cigarettes from using flavoured vapes on public health.

The youth vaping call for evidence, published in 2023, demonstrated that vape flavours are one of the main reasons that vapes appeal to children. However, we recognise that vape flavours can also be a consideration for adult smokers seeking to quit smokin...

Whether he plans to hold a separate consultation on the NHS workforce plan in addition to the consultation on the 10-Year Health Plan.

The refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan will deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and will ensure that patients get the treatment they need, when and where they need it.In the development of the plan, we will engage wi...

Pursuant to the Answer to Question 12405 of 13 November 2024, whether he has had discussions with the community pharmacy sector on improving real-time communication on the availability of ADHD medi

No discussions have been held. The Department has worked with specialist clinicians, including those within the National Health Service, to develop management advice for the NHS. The guidance signposts all sectors to refer to the Specialist Pharmacy Servi...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of supply shortages for ADHD medication on the mental health of patients.

The Department is working closely with NHS England’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and medicines supply teams, to help resolve the supply issues and improve information for people with ADHD and clinicians.We are also supporting an indepe...

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 6227 Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of people who (a) completed treatment and (b) waited

The following table shows the number of completed treatments and waiting times for a first appointment for Talking Therapies in the nearest equivalent areas, by sub integrated care board area, of NHS Newcastle Gateshead and NHS North Tyneside, in July 202...

If his Department will take steps to improve the communication of the real-time availability of ADHD medications in pharmacies to patients.

The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information on stock levels within individual pharmacies is not held centrally.To aid attention deficit hyperactivit...

Pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9455 on Air Pollution: Poverty, if he will take steps to reduce the number of schools in England that are in areas exceeding World Health Organ

The Government is determined to improve air quality and protect children from the harms of pollution, and is committed to meeting the legal targets for air quality, including the targets recently set under the Environment Act 2021. The Department of Healt...

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9455 on Air Pollution: Poverty, if he will take steps to help tackle the impact of air pollution on people with a low income.

The Chief Medical Officers Annual report on Air Pollution (2022) demonstrated the increased health risks associated with exposure to air pollution among those living in areas of higher socio-economic deprivation. The Government are committed to reducing h...

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of air pollution on neighbourhoods with high levels of poverty.

Although air pollution can be harmful to everyone, some people are more affected because they live in a polluted area, are exposed to higher levels of air pollution in their day-to-day lives, or are more susceptible to health problems caused by air pollut...

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2899 on Nurses: Training, what steps he is taking to promote the merits of nursing as a career.

To remove the barriers to training in clinical roles, eligible students receive a non-repayable grant of £5,000 a year, with additional incentives for priority specialisms, such as mental health nursing.The National Health Service has a long-established c...

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the NHS Learning Support Fund.

The Government keeps the funding arrangements for all healthcare students under close review. At all times the Government must strike a balance between the level of support students receive, and the need to make best use of public funds to deliver value f...

What steps his Department is taking to support people with alcohol dependence.

A vital part of delivering the Health Mission shift to prevention will be action to reduce the harms from excess alcohol consumption. The Department is continuing to invest in improvements to local alcohol treatment services to ensure that those in need c...